7/8/2009 6:00:00 PM Local girls softball teams bringing home more titles
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
The Xplosion and the Neshoba Elite claimed some more championship gold this past weekend as both teams brought home state championships.
The Xplosion captured first place in the 10-year-old State USFA Fast-pitch tournament which was held in Meridian. Meanwhile, the Neshoba Elite played slow-pitch in the USSSA 8-year-old tournament which was held in Philadelphia and won the first place trophy. Here's a look at both teams' play.
Xplosion
The Xplosion went undefeated in the USFA State Tournament but really had to work for the victory in the final game.
McKenzie Johnson pitched a no-hitter in the first game as the Xplosion defeated M.S. Crush 8-1. Johnson had five strike outs.
The Xplosion then blanked the Delta Diamonds of Cleveland 14-0 in game two. Johnson pitched a one-hitter and had four strike outs. Alyssa 'Tata' Davis scored three runs in the effort.
The Xplosion then defeated the Krush 98 of Tupelo 9-2 in game three. Johnson was the winning pitcher as she was credited with another one-hitter. Hannah Williams was credited with three RBIs.
Johnson continued her winning ways in game four as she pitched the Xplosion past the Mississippi Elite 98 9-3. The Xplosion exploded for seven runs in the second inning to ice the victory. Davis had three RBIs and Madalyn McMahon hit two RBIs.
The Xplosion had to work hard to win game five and claim the championship trophy. Sarah Moss picked up the pitching victory in relief. The Crush jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Xplosion scored three in the third and tied the game at 5-5 in the fourth as the time limit expired.
The Crush went down in three at bats in the extra inning. In the bottom of the inning, Hannah Williams walked and stole second. Taylor Harrison then faked a bunt which drew the third baseman in to cover and moved the shortstop over to third base. At the last second, Harrison went for the hit and knocked the ball up the middle. Williams scored from second base and the game was over with a 6-5 Xplosion victory.
This would be the fourth tournament the Xplosion has won so far this summer.
The Xplosion will be back in action Thursday at 3 p.m. when they play in the first round of the Dizzy Dean tournament.
Neshoba Elite
The Neshoba Elite walked away with another tournament championship this past weekend as they captured the USSSA 8 and Under slow-pitch state championship at Northside Park this past weekend.
The Elite usually plays fast-pitch but stepped into the slow-pitch tournament with 11 other teams and walked away with the first place championship.
The Elite played in six games over the weekend and won five. They opened with a 17-4 win over the Southern Blaze of Saltillo and then dropped The Rookies of New Albany 19-2.
The Elite then dropped a 17-9 decision to the Ponytail Bandits of Newton County and had to play their way out of the losers' bracket.
They came back to score seven runs in the final inning and beat the Sundolls of Walnut 18-17.
The Elite then came back and beat the Ponytail Bandits twice for the tournament championship. They won the first game 15-1 and then took the second game 17-16 to claim first place in the tournament.
Neshoba Elite also took the gold medal at the State Games in the 8U bracket in Meridian on June 20.
They went undefeated in the seven team 8U division.
The Elite will be back in action Friday when they play in the Dizzy Dean South State Fast-pitch tournament which will be held in Eupora.
